10 Best Sumo Deadlift With Bands Alternatives for Limited Equipment
The Sumo Deadlift With Bands is done standing with a barbell. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Linear Acceleration Wall Drill, the Self Assisted Inverse Leg Curl and the Self Assisted Inverse Leg Curl (On Floor).
Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works
Original Exercise: Sumo Deadlift With Bands

- Primary muscle
- Hamstrings
- Equipment
- Barbell
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Type
- Compound
Secondary muscles: Adductors, Forearms, Glutes, Lower Back, Middle Back, Quadriceps, Traps
How to perform Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- To deadlift with short bands, simply loop them over the bar before you start, and step into them to set up. Ensure that they under the back half of your foot, directly where you are driving into the floor.
- Begin with a bar loaded on the ground. Approach the bar so that the bar intersects the middle of the feet. The feet should be set very wide, near the collars. Bend at the hips to grip the bar. The arms should be directly below the shoulders, inside the legs, and you can use a pronated grip, a mixed grip, or hook grip.
- Take a breath, and then lower your hips, looking forward with your head with your chest up. Drive through the floor, spreading your feet apart, with your weight on the back half of your feet. Extend through the hips and knees.
- As the bar passes through the knees, lean back and drive the hips into the bar, pulling your shoulder blades together.
- Return the weight to the ground by bending at the hips and controlling the weight on the way down.
Ranked Sumo Deadlift With Bands Alternatives
10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Sumo Deadlift With Bands on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.
Best match 
1. Linear Acceleration Wall Drill
74% match- Hamstrings
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
Pick this when you want an easier version that works the hamstrings one side at a time.
How to perform this exercise
- Lean at around 45 degrees against a wall. Your feet should be together, glutes contracted.
- Begin by lifting your right knee quickly, pausing, and then driving it straight down into the ground.
- Switch legs, raising the opposite knee, and then attacking the ground straight down.
- Repeat once more with your right leg, and as soon as the right foot strikes the ground hammer them out rapidly, alternating left and right as fast as you can.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: hamstrings, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
2. Self Assisted Inverse Leg Curl
69% match- Hamstrings
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Isolation
Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the hamstrings with bodyweight alone.
How to perform this exercise
- Lie flat on your back on a mat or bench with your legs extended.
- Place your hands by your sides or under your glutes for support.
- Bend your knees and lift your feet off the ground, bringing your thighs towards your chest.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs back to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: hamstrings, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: kneeling, not standing
- Hamstrings
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Isolation
How to perform this exercise
- Lie flat on your back with your legs extended and your arms by your sides.
- Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the ground, hip-width apart.
- Lift your hips off the ground, engaging your glutes and hamstrings.
- Slowly curl your legs towards your glutes, keeping your hips lifted.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly extend your legs back to the starting position.
- Lower your hips back down to the ground.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: hamstrings, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: kneeling, not standing
4. Kick Out Sit
64% match- Hamstrings
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Sit on the edge of a bench or chair with your feet flat on the ground and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle.
- Lean back slightly and place your hands on the edge of the bench or chair for support.
- Engaging your hamstrings, lift your feet off the ground and extend your legs straight out in front of you.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly bend your knees and bring your feet back towards your body.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: hamstrings, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands

5. Moving Claw Series
63% match- Hamstrings
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- This move helps prepare your running form to help you excel at sprinting. As you run, be sure to flex the knee, aiming to kick your glutes as the hip extends.
- Reload the quad as the leg moves back forward, attacking the ground on the next step.
- Ensure that as you run, you block with the arms, punching through in a rapid 1-2 motion.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: hamstrings, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Sumo Deadlift With Bands

6. Natural Glute Ham Raise
62% match- Hamstrings
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Using the leg pad of a lat pulldown machine or a preacher bench, position yourself so that your ankles are under the pads, knees on the seat, and you are facing away from the machine. You should be upright and maintaining good posture.
- This will be your starting position. Lower yourself under control until your knees are almost completely straight.
- Remaining in control, raise yourself back up to the starting position.
- If you are unable to complete a rep, use a band, a partner, or push off of a box to aid in completing a repetition.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: hamstrings, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: kneeling, not standing
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
7. Single Leg Platform Slide
57% match- Hamstrings
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
Pick this when you want an easier single-leg version that still works the hamstrings.
How to perform this exercise
- Start by standing with one foot on a platform or slide board.
- Bend your knee slightly and slide the foot on the platform backward, extending your leg.
- Keep your core engaged and maintain a straight posture throughout the movement.
- Slowly return to the starting position by sliding your foot back to the initial position.
- Repeat the movement for the desired number of repetitions, then switch legs.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: hamstrings, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
8. Standing Single Leg Curl
52% match- Hamstrings
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Isolation
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your hands on your hips.
- Shift your weight onto your left leg and lift your right foot off the ground, bending your knee.
- Slowly curl your right heel towards your glutes, squeezing your hamstring.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your right foot back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch legs.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps on each side.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: hamstrings, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
9. Inverse Leg Curl (Bench Support)
51% match- Hamstrings
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Isolation
How to perform this exercise
- Lie face down on a bench with your hips at the edge and your legs extended straight behind you.
- Hold onto the bench for support.
- Keeping your upper body still, bend your knees and curl your legs towards your glutes.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly extend your legs back to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: hamstrings, the same as the Sumo Deadlift With Bands
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying face down, not standing
10. Reverse Hyper On Flat Bench
47% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Lie face down on a flat bench with your hips at the edge and your legs hanging off the bench.
- Hold onto the bench for stability.
- Keeping your legs straight, raise them up towards the ceiling as high as you can.
- Squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement.
- Slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, not hamstrings
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying face down, not standing
Sumo Deadlift With Bands FAQ
What muscles does Sumo Deadlift With Bands work?
The lift primarily targets the hamstrings and glutes while also loading the adductors and spinal erectors. Bands increase resistance through the lockout, so you get greater hip‑extensor torque at the top; cue: squeeze the glutes and drive through the heels at lockout to maximize hip extension.
What is the best bodyweight alternative to Sumo Deadlift With Bands?
The Nordic hamstring curl is the top bodyweight substitute for hamstring hypertrophy and eccentric strength. Anchor your ankles, hinge at the hips, and control the forward descent to overload the hamstrings without external loading.
Can I build muscle without doing Sumo Deadlift With Bands?
Yes. You can achieve hypertrophy using alternatives that preserve hip‑dominant loading, progressive overload, and tempo control. Use heavier RDLs, single‑leg variations, or eccentric‑focused sets and track load, reps, or tempo to ensure progressive stimulus.
Find Alternatives for Any Exercise
Search the exercise database and filter the ranked substitutes by the equipment you own.
Similarity scores compare exercise metadata such as movement pattern, muscles, equipment and body position. They are not a safety rating or a check that you own the equipment. Learn about our methodology








